John Edward Atchico passed peacefully on December 15, 2019 surrounded by his family in Billings, Montana.
Our beloved husband, dad, brother, papa, great-papa, uncle and best friend, John departed from this earth naturally to be with the Lord, at the age of 70. He was known for his quick wit, his infectious smile, his kind and compassionate spirit, and especially his love for the Lord.
John, was born May 29, 1949 in Harrah, OK to Jenny Wiles and Edward John Atchico. He graduated from Harrah High School in 1967. He went to the American Indian Arts Institute in Santa Fe for one year. He also went to Haskell Institute where he received his heating and air-conditioning certificate in 1970.
He worked his whole life starting from age 14. He worked two summers at the Grand Canyon, on and off during college years. Taking the BIA relocation program to Denver in 1970, where he began his career in heating and air-conditioning. He moved to Poplar in 1972, and began working for CNM Construction. He then moved on to Service Soft Water Conditioning, from there he went to the Ft. Peck Tribes working with furnaces, moving to the position of HIP Director and Enterprise Director. Leaving the tribes, he went to work at Dody Culbertson Plumbing. From there he went to MDU Utilities starting in 1985 and retiring in 2009. Spending 24 years as the MDU service man. He also spent time volunteering on the Poplar ambulance crew in the 1970’s. He enjoyed retirement. His highlights were his travels to Hawaii in 2016 and attending the NBA Playoffs Oklahoma Thunder vs. Portland Trailblazers in 2019.
October 1968, he met the love of his life, Linda Red Thunder at Haskell. They married May 26, 1970 in Lawrence, KS on the campus of Haskell in a little Baptist Mission church, in front of their close friends and family. They just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this year. Together they raised two daughters, Leslie and Jennifer and one son, Lee Aron.
John’s passions in life were his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who he cherished and loved. His family was everything to him. He looked forward to his Atchico Family Reunions every June in Oklahoma. He loved working and building things for his kids to play. He loved old cars and his 60’s music. He always put others before himself. John met the Lord in 1968, where he had a personal experience with Him and thereafter he has loved the Lord ever since. He was always willing to stop and pray for anyone who requested. He was a humble and selfless man.
John was preceded in death by his father, Edward Atchico; his mother, Jenny Wiles; his beloved son, Lee Aron Atchico; his 4 older brothers and 3 older sisters, his father and mother-in-law Joe and Evelyn Red Thunder; his brother-in-law, Barry Ventura; his sister-in-law, Carol Red Thunder; and his granddaughter, Ashlee Ann Atchico.
He is survived by his beloved wife Linda Atchico; his two daughters, Leslie (Darrell) Todd, and Jennifer (Nishant) Shrestha; his grandsons, Andrew Frederick, Jalen Atchico, Alex Boyd, Abhi Shrestha and his only grand daughter Cory Jaye Fourstar along with his beloved great-grandsons River Frederick and Arrow Atchico; special nephew/son Marcus Red Thunder and granddaughter Chanel Red Thunder; special daughter, Stacie Smith-Fourstar; special son, Michael Aviles; his sister-in-law, Kathleen Ventura; niece, Traci Longtree; nephew, Joey Ventura; grandson, Joshua Miller, Jordon Messerly, Jayden and Coby Ventura;Butch and Dale Bear, Anita (Clyde) Bauer, Suzanne (Courtney) Smith, Feryl (Jim) Patch, and the matriarch of the family Myrna Greufe; and his beloved family in Oklahoma, too numerous to mention; and his special nephew, Clarence Deer in Harrah, Oklahoma.
A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at the Assembly of God Church in Poplar, Montana. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 2019 at the Assembly of God Church in Poplar, Montana. Cremation will follow. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted ondolences for the family may be left using the form below.
Bob and Terry McAnally says
Our condolences to John’s family and friends during this time of grief and loss. He will be missed.
Nyla Braaten says
So sorry ,John was a great guy. Prayers for family.
Florence says
My condolences to John’s wife, and family. John was a friendly guy. Rest In Peace
Florence says
My condolences to John’s family. Rest In Peace
Iva Grainger says
My condolences to the Family. John will be missed. Rest in Peace!
David and Chong Ae Boyd says
Farewell John till we met again
Kathleen & family says
Brother in law John was a jack of all trades. He seemed like he could fix anything.
One time back in the day he fixed up an older bike that sat way up high. During the Oil Celebration he would be riding it in town. He would let others try it out and one girl got on it and was screaming as she peddled it. She was alot braver than me though. If you fell it would’ve been a long way down.
But he didn’t care he’d be riding around town.
He was a fun brother in law.
He was still funny with the things he said.
My sincerest condolences to my sister, nieces and grandchildren.
Also to his family in Oklahoma.
I know he is enjoying himself around the throne of God.
Rest in perfect peace brother in law. 🙂😇
Rev. Steven Smith says
John my friend what a gracious and kind man. Always willing to listen, pray and encourage us all. We will miss you on this side of heaven . Looking forward to being reunited on the glory side.
Lucy Redekopp says
My sincere condolences to my friend Linda and family. the lord be with you all.
Laurie says
Our deepest condolences to Brother John’s family. He will be missed. He is with the Lord now, John was not afraid to go be with the Lord. Forever in our hearts.
Gerald & Shirley Jackson says
Condolences to John’s family may he Rest In Peace he was such a good friend and loved visiting with him.
Penny Kaleva says
So very sorry th hear of Johns death. He will always be remembered. He was such a kind gentle hard working guy.
Prayers for his family. God Bless. Was an honor to know him!
Gary and Jackie Grainger says
Condolences to the family!
John was such a nice man and loved Jesus with all his heart! He will be greatly missed!
Till we meet in Heaven!
Vanessa Eagle and family says
I know our brother John is in Heaven, he told the church what it was like in Heaven, the last time he was flown to Billings. May the Lord grant you peace, knowing John’s in Heaven, meeting Jesus our Lord and Savior.
Louis Montclair says
The MDU man. We will see you again.
Rhonda Mason says
Sorry about your loss Linda, prayers for all.
John summers says
Condolences to Linda and children, grandchildren. John was a leader in the church always making you feel welcome to the Assembly services. I remember the prayer meetings held at Gene Culbertsons, Myrna Greuffe, Fred and Bea Cummins, residences and other homes during my childhood. John was always present praying for the people and showing his love for the lord. He is a surely in Heaven now reaping his rewards for a lifetime of hard work.
Condolences from. John and Stacey Summers and family
Pete Wilson says
I first met John in 2012 when he invited me to talk about Sasquatch activity in Poplar. Since then I made regular trips to The Fort Peck Rez. to do my research and regularly met John and our friends for a bonfire, talk and our friendship grew, talking on the phone quite often. But I learned today of his passing and it’s with great sadness for the loss of someone who I grew to know and like. The good Lord now has a another great soul in heaven and I will surely miss our conversations and the time we spend together will be cherished. My sincere condolences to his wife, family, and his friends. Rest in peace John; I will miss you!
From: Pete and Kathy Wilson, Sasquatch Watch of Montana
Perry Morton says
I remember John as part of my friend and church family during my years in Poplar. I remember his smile and laugh! He will be missed!
Veronica Refstar says
I will truly miss John. He was such a good friend, the Creator blessed me with both he and Linda’s
friendship during our time at Haskell, then surprised when we learned we were together in Denver. He spoke highly of his daughter”s and he grieved so hard for his son. Now they will walk together. My deepest sympathies to my friend Linda and her daughter’s Jennifer & Leslie.
Kindra Parry says
John was always a friend to our family from the first day we moved to Poplar. Even when I moved back many years later he always had a smile and a kind word. He will truly be missed.
Rita Weeks says
My condolences to Linda and family.
Darlyn Grainger says
Condolences to Linda and families. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time. He is in Heaven with his beloved son Lee and other relatives
Michelle Bauer says
I am so very sorry. Looking back in life when i was young I have so many memories…I looked up to him and totally enjoyed hanging out with you all. I rember going on vacations and just being with you all alot. I always felt welcomed in your home and your hearts. He had a great sense of humor, he was a funny guy. I truly loved that as my Uncle and Aunt, I was always treated as one of your own daughters. Thank you for that. No matter what has happened in the past, I will always love you Linda. And Jennifer and Leslie, even though we dont see each other as we did growing up, you are my family and my love for you both is just as strong.
Gina Bearfighter says
Hebrews 9:27-28 King James Version (KJV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
I met John at the Assembly of God Church and he was the MDU man for many years!
John’s passing is not only the loss of a husband, father, brother, and cousin but the loss of a dear friend, mentor and acquaintance.
I will remember John as a prayerful man, a man who did not judge people by the moral code and had a sense of good clean humor. He was a nice, kind and gentle man. I’ll remember he was a man who was a truth seeker and his journey in this life was to know God…this is a personal journey.
John is already deeply missed.
But as we know life goes on.
I will remember him in a good way.
Linda I cannot find the words that may comfort you in your time of loss…I can only hope that you find the way to get through it.
You are in my prayers now…daily forever.
I have been through this 4 times and found there is only one way through it…it is the way of covenant faith.
I want to share this poem with you and all family & friends. I also read it at my mom’s funeral.
I think of it often and it comforted me in my own time of loss and deep grief.
[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in]
BY E. E. CUMMINGS
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
~Gina Bearfighter
r jay callister says
John and I never met, yet we have mutual friends. I got to know him through Facebook. I was impressed by his sincerity and his great love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know we will meet again. In the meantime, I pray that the comforting spirit will bring peace to you, his family.
Kelly and Charley says
Linda and family, we were blessed to have John in our life. We loved his sense of humor, his gentle kindness and his genuine interest in what we were doing. We know he loved his family so very much. We pray for your comfort in the thought that he’s waiting for us all, just around the bend.
Laura Onzahwah Boyd says
John was a very special uncle. He was my mom’s (Beatrice Atchico Onzahwah) youngest brother. I was a young child when we moved in with my grandparents for a short time. John was like an older brother. I will miss his jokes, his laughter, and our deep conversations about the Lord he loved. I’m so very glad we shared that same faith!! We will have more conversations when we see each other again!
Debbie Vine says
What an awesome man of God and witness.
We will miss you but see you in glory!
Shannon snd Debbie Vine
Gay Pennington says
I ran into John & Linda at the Target on Central. I was working that day. I always love seeing people from back home. They where a very happy couple. We had a very nice visit. I was so happy to see than and enjoy our visit. Linda and family you have my Condolences for the loss of John. He always had a smile on his face when ever I ran into him. Plus he would always stop and visit with you and off he go. John in heaven now with all the love ones. Linda you will be in heart and prayers. May God Bless you all. Love Gay (Paulson)Pennington and Matt
Clint Whitmer says
I just want to honor John as a friend. Thank you. Rest in peace.
Mary Fladeland White says
Hugs and prayers for the family. Such a great man, he will be missed.
Curtis Courchene says
Nice caring person !!!
Iva Grainger says
My thoughts and prayers are with the family. RIP John!
Donald Boyd says
What A Beautiful Soul We We Lost Prayers Are With You Linda And Kathleen And Leslie In In This Time Of Lost..
Dale Stensland says
I worked with John a few times, thoughts and prayers for the family.
Dale.
Gail Green says
A good prayerful man. Condolences to his family and friends. I give thinks to our Lord for his promises.